Oregon's aviation cluster is set to get a big boost as part of a Federal Aviation Administration test site for drones.

The University of Alaska's bid, which was selected by the FAA, includes test ranges in Oregon and Hawaii. Economic Development for Central Oregon, Oregon State University and area drone companies teamed with the University of Alaska on its bid.

The Columbia River Gorge is home to a cluster of drone companies, led by Insitu and a dozen other spinoff companies and suppliers that collectively employ about 1,200 people. Another 80 drone- and aviation-related companies, according to EDCO, are located in the region.

Civilian drone activity has been approved by the FAA to begin in 2015 and the industry is expected to accelerate, with drones used for everything from monitoring polar bears and ice flows to tracking whales, forest fires and urban creep. In addition, drone-related businesses are expected to cluster around the test sites.

The Oregon test ranges included are the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reservation, and ranges in Pendleton and Tillamook.

“This is the news we’ve been hoping for and next step will be to confirm that all elements of our joint application with Alaska remain intact," said Roger Lee, executive director of EDCO. "Given the four years invested by EDCO and a small army of volunteers from the aviation/aerospace industry, it’s a sweet victory and culmination of literally thousands of hours of work.”